Clyde, N.C. (April 14, 2008) – Enthusiastic fans of the lumberjack tradition made their way to the main field at Haywood Community College in North Carolina over the weekend to see collegiate competitors representing five regional schools compete in a winner-take-all chopping and sawing battle.
Emerging victorious after three rounds of competition in the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series event was Montgomery Community College's Matt Slingerland, who earned his first-place finish through cumulative points gathered in the underhand chop, stock saw and single buck events. Though he was by far the youngest and smallest of the competitors, the fact that his skills were honed by his father, STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series professional Mike Slingerland, may have played a part in him winning a spot in the Collegiate Series Championship held June 27 in Columbus, Ga.
As part of his win, STIHL will pay Slingerland's way to the Collegiate Series Championship, including travel and lodging for the athlete and his coach. He also earned a $1,000 scholarship from STIHL for Montgomery Community College.
"STIHL would like to congratulate Matt on his win in our third STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series event of the season," said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. "We created this series to help develop the next top STIHL TIMBERSPORTS competitors, as well as encourage collegiate interest in the sport around the country and I am sure that Matt will represent the Mid-Atlantic region well."
Penn State, Mont Alto's Chance Yeckley and Slingerland were tied in first place going into the last event, the single buck. Slingerland won the discipline with a personal best time, however, besting Yeckley by a mere two points to claim the title. Third place went to Haywood Community College lumberjack Josh "Tiny" Roten. Brendon Wilson of Pennsylvania College of Technology finished in fourth place and Brian Duvall from Allegany College of Maryland rounded out the field in fifth.
The next STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Collegiate Series event will take place at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H. on April 19.
For more information, go to
www.ESPNOutdoors.com
and click on TIMBERSPORTS, or visit
www.stihltimbersports.com
.
About STIHL Inc.
STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through independent servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast – not mass merchants. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit STIHL's Web site at
www.stihlusa.com
.
STIHL Inc. is the official underwriting sponsor of the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Series presented by Carhartt. The series airs throughout the year on the ESPN2 cable network, and the STIHL® TIMBERSPORTS® Collegiate Series airs on ESPNU.
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